Boosting Educational Operations

Public

Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Jeffrey Schillinger

What Makes an Effective Orientation Program?

What type of orientation do new instructors receive at your school? What components do you believe are crucial to an effective orientation program or process?

Jeffrey Schillinger

Conducting Job Interviews

What current techniques and procedures do you use to you conduct job interviews and what changes might you make as a result of this module?

Jeffrey Schillinger

Recruitment Methods

What is your most common way of recruiting applicants for instructor positions at your school and how can the method be improved?

Jeffrey Schillinger

Hiring the Right Instructor

What kind of skills and qualities define the basis for which you hire your faculty?

Isabel Santiago

Word of Mouth is the Best Marketing Tool

For our school, word of mouth has been the best marketing tool. We have tried movie theaters to reach the younger crowd, magazines, fliers, and none of them have worked for us like word of mouth. We try to provide the best training possible and get a personal interest in our students and they do the marketing for us.

Sergio Arritola

Experential Learning

I'd like to know what would be some interesting ways to give our students, from the casino industry, some experential learning. I'd like to offer, on a monthly basis, something for them to come together and see what their work requirements will be. Something to enjoy and also learn from.

John Laplante

5-Year Plan Drivers

What drives the 5-Year Plan? Do we start with the project sustainable student count for each program, or with the desired gross profit and work backwards? How does placement factor into the equation? Thanks!

Chris Masters

Cash flow forcast

When implementing projects I find it difficult to allocate funds when cash flow is slow or irregular. Extended payment plans are great for students but they greatly affect the ability of the school to function and grow. Does anyone have suggestions on how to stabilize cash flow to meet monthly budget requirements?

Chris Masters

CPI and education

It's interesting to note that the cost of education has increased 72% from 2000 to 2008. These figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can be found by searching their website: http://www.bls.gov/bls/proghome.htm What has been everyone's experience with tuition increases? Based on national tuition rates for my program, I've seen increases as much as 100% or more from 2000 to 2008.

Alan Algan

Learning Resource System - Print v. Online. How do you balance it?

We have found that the best way to keep the Learning Resource System up-to-date and current is to subscribe to the industry newsletters. The higher frequency and prevalence of industry periodicals accounts for the high percentage of periodicals found in our Learning Resource System. Today, everything being available online at a lesser cost, how do you balance the Learning Resource System?

Alexander Lennartz

Advisory Board for an ESL School

What is the best make up of an Advisory Board for an ESL School

Dr. Susan Schulz

Can a Realistic Budget Affect Growth?

How does a realistic budget provide a platform for a school’s growth projections and revenue targets? What are the components of an effective budget?

Dr. Susan Schulz

Who Does What? The Employee Job Description

What do you believe are the essential components of an employee job description that ensure roles and responsibilities are realized, expectations are met and the organizational chart is followed?

Dr. Susan Schulz

Operating With Limited Resources

What are some creative ways a department such as student services (or other departments) can operate with limited financial and human resources?

Dr. Susan Schulz

The Strategic Plan

Has your institution ever developed a comprehensive plan that required more resources than the budget, personnel, or the facility could handle? What was the outcome (please do not discuss any proprietary or confidential information)? What contingencies might a strategic plan include to allow for adjustments as it is implemented?

Pam Crater

Advisory's Advice

What is a good way to show the advisory board that their suggestions were taken and implemented? I feel they would be more likely to stay committed knowing their suggestions and advice were being heard.

James Gast

Keeping Prospects

I have found if you take to long to go through the hiring process when you finally make the selection they have already found it necessary to take another job. This can be within a week!! How do you keep them interested while you are trying to determine the best applicant?

bernice henry